Apparatus for manufacturing tubular articles



Sept. 6, 1932. w. c. STATE' K APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING TUBULAR ARTICLES Filed Dec. 27, 1928 v 5 sheets-sheet 1 4* N \s (l E 2. .3 am

sept. 6, 1932. w. TME www? APPARATUS FOP#- MANUFACTURING TUBULAR ARTICLES le? Il A I fl l l. IH n' am m N s@ W0/ @Moz 11 e1,

l Sept. 6, 1932. w C, STATE y 1,876,087

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING TUBULAR ARTICLES Filed Dec. 27, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 WL RC. Stevie.

Patented Sept. 6, 1932 :UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILL C. STATE, AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE GOODYEAR TIREr & RUBBER COM- VIEAN'Y, 0F AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIOV .APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING TUBULAR ARTICLES Application led December 27, 1928. Serial No. 328,678.

The apparatus embodies a calenderv in which a laminated strip of plastic rubber material is formed. The strip is received from the calender upon a plurality of cooling rollers and suspended in a loop between the latter and an intermittently rotating conveyor. The conveyor discharges the strip successively upon a plurality of flexible forms which are positioned radially upon a rotatable frame or table. The forms and the aforesaid conveyor are rotated simultaneously during eachV period the strip is Wound spirally upon one patch is applied to the first and it is impregnated with soapstone or other suitable antifriction material at an adjacent station.

' When the winding of the second strip is completed, the frame is again rotated and the aforesaid operations are repeated while a folding apparatus is employed in overlapping the opposite edges of the first mentioned strip to form a circumferential seam. After the frame is movedl again and during the time when all of the aforesaid operations are` being repeated, the first mentioned form is collapsed and a completely formed inner tube is removed therefrom. The inner tube then is iniiated in an annular mold and vulcanized in any suitable manner.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may noW be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, 1n which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the apl paratus.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of-a portion ofthe rotatable frame supporting a plurality of endless flexible forms.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional View taken on line IIIIII of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view illustrating one of the forms in its collapsed position.,

i Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on line V-V of Fig. 2; and Fig. 6 isa cross-sectional view taken substantially along theline VI-VI of Fig. 2. Referring more particularly to Fig. l, a calender 10 employed in practicing the invention comprises a plurality of rollers 11, 12,13 and 14. Auxiliary strips 16 and 17 are formed in the calender 1-0 from batches 18 and l19 of plastic rubber composition or other suitable material inserted between pairs 11 and 12, and 13 and 14 of the rollers respectively. Thestrips 16 .and 17 are pressed together by the rollers 12 and 13 to form a laminated strip 2l, which isfestooned upon rollers 22, 23 and 24 containing water or other suitable cooling fluid. The rolls of the calender 10 and likewise the cooling fluid roll`- ers 22, 23 and 24 are driven continuously at a uniform rate. The strip 21 is suspended in a.

loop 26 between the cooling roller 24 .and an endless conveyor 27, which is supported at opposite ends by lrollers 28 and 29 rotatably mounted upon shafts 31 and 32. The shaft 31 isV journaled adjacent its opposite ends in v blocks 33, which areslidably mounted in guide frames 34in whichthe blocks arey adjust-ably positioned by threaded rods 36. The guidel frames'34 are rigidly secured upon the upper surface of al frame 37. The shaft 32 supporting the roller 29 is journaled adjacent its opposite ends in plates 38 which are supported by a frame 41 and are connected tothe frame 37 by bars 42.

A motor 43, which is secured rigidly upon a i base 44 by bolts 46, is provided with a shaft 47 and a drive pinion 48 engaging a gear 49, 'Which is secured rigidly upon a shaft 51 projecting from a worm reduction gear boX 52. A driven shaft53, likewise projecting from the gear box 52, is provided with a sprocket wheel 54 operatively engaging a chain 56 which, in turn, drives a sprocket Wheel 57V securedl rigidl-yupon one end of a crank shaft 58. rBea-rings .59, formed in a spaced :pair-of vertically disposed frames 61, rotatably sup,-

` ,port the vopposite ends of the crank shaft 58.

VThe throwl portion-62 of the-crank shaft '5 8 is* providedwith a crank pin 63 which i'sjour- 101=and -102-,-isrotatably supported upon the naled in a block64liaving its edges slidaloly disposed in radial'lyi'disposed"guide portions" 66forrned in a largengearesegnient67. .A..pin

3-5 68, rigidly secured in one ofthe frames 61, vin@rotatably supports Ythe seg-nent 67v at vitsanis When thechain 56 is .rotatably driven by the termediate the ends of a vertically disposed shaft 91. The lower end of the shaft 91 is rotatably received in a thrust bearing 92 "I while a portion-thereof above the bevel gear S9 is journaled .in a bearing. 93 `formed in :an

upper web portion 94 of the pedestal 86. A frame 96, comprising a base portion 97 and four -outwardlyfprojecting'brackets r98, 99, if

upper surface. ofthe pedestal 86'. The shaft 91 projectsthrough the base 97 and yprovides .anwaxis upon whichthe frame 96 is adapted to rotate, although' the shaft* is received in i fthe. base rotatably.

1;! Rigidly secured. oir? @ther upper' -endof the *shaft-911B a ldisc95 having a plurality of ment 67 is oscillated upon the pin 68 by the ratchet teeth 100 forrnedon its periphery 5.520; zrotationof the -pin 63 in theslidably disposed ;v Vblock 64..'@Gear ,teet'h,69,f disposed on; the outer 5. portion ofthe segment .617, operativelyengage a pinion 71 which is rigidly secured `adj acent l i one-end :ofl arshaft. 72. Y

ffiof *,t-he*;fra1ne161,=rotatably supportfthe oppol Bearings 73, formed inthe upper portions. .f

f site.ends.-oftliepshaftg72;. Axdsc 74,'. having iratclret".teeth76';.formed :ony the 'periphery fthe ring gear 103,'andcover plate 85,.'secured thereof: eandicomprisingthef internal .element .f fof a disc androlleraclutch -77is rigidly. secured internediatertheen dso'fathe'shaft 72. Rollers r @74;.are adaptedito: bev urged .fagainstrthe inner periphery of firing-7 9 comprising thepea'rternal ielelnentfofithez clutch 77. 5 .The ring 9. islfro- :tat-ably mounted. uponithe. .shaft '.72il in; the

i-xnsualfniainnenupon-a bearing, notfshown, confnected to: the.4 ring :by: .an integrally formed f .;web.a When the.: discl74is frotateds'irria c.lock-.

T40 -wise direction by. the/shaft; 72,.:.the roller178 :1. will; beclamped against the ring 79, Kthus 'ro- -ftating ithe.- aforesaid :external ielernentf of :the 5. aicluteh.: .During rotationxof the .diseintheizopf posite direction, the roll-ers78zwill be carriedL 45j ,-inrthe" depression fbetweenfthe ratchet teeth 76,

:11.158,- fthe l belt :27 :may i be driven. ivariable'xdisstances. ::'The`;`ring y.79.falsofisprovided'with f-tively,' on brackets 101 and 9 8. projecting f-othengearfteeth.forhdrivinga chain83, -from V z which, a sprocket.l wheel 184 is likewise rotatsecured at one side of a pedestal: 86 upon' ai' '1 stud shaft 87 rotatably Am'eiinted in theY pedes-j .ftalfand fprojectingfinto.a, chamber` formed .,tlierein. 1

rA bevel gearl which. are adapted ,to receive la plurality of rollers 105therebetween.=k 'Vshen the disc 95 is rotated in afclockwise direction (see Fig. 2 vthe rollers. 105 are thrust Aoutwardly by the teeth'- 100 against 4the. inner periphery of afrbeveledp-ring gear 103,whichisadapted to be rotatably: mounted `'upon .the-` shaft 91 'be. low the dise 95.- *.I-he-,disc `95,-.the rollers105,

tothe disc-.95 comprise theieleinents.. of a.- disc and rolleryclutch11`10,,which -isprovided l'for i .the purpose ofi-'permitting the, rotation of 78, positioned between the teeth^76 of the" disc :.thering gear independently ofthe shaft. k91. y

.-Thebevel ring gear v103,*mesheswith a .pair Aof bevel, gears-104 andy 1.106 rigidlyfsecured tupon the .inner endsfof avfpair Vof studA shafts l ,4071 and 110,8. VASpaced pairs of :bearings 109 and' 111, rotatably'v support .the studnshafts 107 .-and.108resp y 104. yand 106. r Sprocket `wheels' 112.A and 113,

secured. onfthe 'studshafts 107 'and ,108" re- Ispectively between. the spaced pairs-of bearectiv-ely (adjacent the gears ings.fvre adapted-.todriyefsprocket.chains 114 andlllti; which-infturn drive sprocket Avheels-117 and118, rigidly securedinterme- 'dintetheends of: the shafts 119 and121.-

Journalbea-rings v122 and. 123boltedrto the .frames .102 and':99'respectiyely.v asi-ndicated at, 124zrotatably .support the shafts. 1,19 rand .121 respectively Bevel gearsr .126 .and 127,

ported yby bearings 133. and 134, which'y are securedvr byl'b'olts, 'indicated Vat 136v Yrespecthefvbase plate v97.

-121,",` i131 and 132i beyond :the .bearings 122,

1123, :133 Iand 134` respectively. Flexible belts or forms 142,.143, ;144'and 146, are

, adapted, at one end-tolse vrotatably support- 188, retatably'inounted; on the :ed .by the aforesaidy spaced pairs .of rollers .rigidly secured on lopposite'.ends .ofthe shafts -l Y while the opposite ends thereof, likewise aref rotatably supported by 'similarly spaced pairs 'of rollers'147, 148, 149 and 151 respectively; The last mentioned spaced pairs of rollers are rotatably secured upon'stud shafts 152, 153, 154 and 156, which are secured respectively in bosses 157,158, 159 and 161 formed at the upper ends of aplurality of rock arms 162, 163, 164 and 166. The lower. ends of the rock arms162, V163, 164 and 166 are rotatably supported by pins 167, 168, 169 and 171, which are rigidly secured in the frame brackets102, 99, 101 and 98 respec tively. The position of the pins 167, 168,169 and 171, relative to the shafts 152, 153,154

and 156 is such thatthe arms 162, 163,164' and 166 are inclined at their upper endsY away from the shafts 119, 121, 131 and 13 respectively. v

The bosses1157, 158, 159 and 161 arepro vided with operating levers 172, 173, 174 and 176 projecting upwardly ,therefrom for the;

purpose of rocking the arms 162,163, 164 and 166 manually upon ythe, pins 167, 168, 169 and 171. The pedestal 86 is so'positioned relative to the conveyor 27 vthat 'the axis ofthe shaft 91 lies in the median plane of rotation of the, conveyor. The distance between the axis of the shaft 91 and the disA charge end of the conveyor 27 is such that the stripy of plastic material 21 transported thereby will be disposed directly upon one of the forms 142, 143, 144 and 146 in a central position thereon.v The aforesaid forms are rotated yby the mechanical apparatus hereinbefore described at the same peripheral speed as the conveyor1 271and for the same period of time.` Consequently, assum-I ing the form 146 to be positioned directly at the end of the conveyor 27, the strip of plastic material 21 will be woundspirally upon the form 146 during an intermittent period of operation of the apparatus.Vv At the end of this period the strip is severed between the conveyor and the form 146 by a manually.

operating cutting tool 178, which is adapted to be drawn Vacross the strip against the outer surfaceof a barj179, having its opposite ends supported upon a spacedpair of brackets 181 secured to the plates 38.

The Acutting disc 175 ofthe cutting tool 178 is yprovided with a plurality of notchesaround its sharpened edge which permit po-r-` tions of the strip along the bar 179 to remain unsevered` and consequently, to retain the ends of the strip together after'the operation openings 190 formed along the median plane 0f= all of the' forms 142, 143, 144 fand 146 d-l-rf rectly-opposite the spacebetween allof the rollers by `which they ar-e supported. 'IhenV while thev segment 67 istr'avelingin `the 0pposite direction and the disc 74 :is rotating. idlylwithin the ring 79,.the frame 96 isro-,y

tated manually on the pedestal until the form 142 is positioned veyor 27. J

adjacent the end ofthe con-p if During the next simultaneous operation oft the conveyor; 27 and the forms 142, 143, 144- and 146, a succeeding'portion. of thestrip 21l j l is wound spirally upon the-form l42'fwhile1 .v the strip supported bythe form-'146 isim- 180.

pregnated -by Vsoapstone or other antifric-f tion material dischargedrfrom'the soapstone f applying mechanism 182, which issuspended 1 from above in permanent relation to the form' Y located atY this station.` At theterminationv f of. this period of operation 'ofthe apparatus,` the strip 21 again is severedby the t00ll78 and the frame is rotated manually ashereinbefore described until the form 144 occupiesthe region adjacent-the end of the conveyor 21; the form 142 is positioned be-` neath the soapstone applying device 182; and Athe form 146 is moved'into a position diam'etrically opposite 4theconveyor 21, inthe vicinity of a rfolding apparatus `183. This apparatus is supportedby. av permanently Y which. vthe formis supported;

`,As best shownby Figs. 5, and 6, the end of the bar 186 isprovidedwith a boss 187 in which a vertically disposed 'pin .188 isy slid` ablyreceived; The upper endiof the pin 188 `located vertically disposed bar184, thel upper end of which supports a-bar 186Vproject-v` ing along theI middle planeof the vfiorm-146 to a `point approximately `midway between- 'the spaced pairs ofA rollers141 and'151,by

is'provided ywith an enlarged knob'1189, by f i which it is adapted to be operated manually.

A spring'191 is confined between the knobi 189 and theA bossv 187. BelowA the boss -187,`

the lower end. of the pin is rigidlysec'uredl substantially intermediate the ends of a-.bargf 192 disposedtransversely to the form.' Pro-.

`jecting downwardly" from ,opposite ends of the bar192-is a pair ofzblocks 193 and 194,.. v. the lower en'dszo'f which are provided with I "7 reduced jo'urnaled portions 196 Vfor 'rotatably supporting a pair Vof rollers 197 and 198. A

`pin 199,;rigidly securedl at onezendl adjacent the lower e-nd'of the block 193 Vand'projecti ing toward the block 194 insubstantially parallel relation to the form, is adaptediro# the median plane of the form."` a Y -tatably to receive a roller 201, thefouterend f V of which terminates immediately a adjacent4 Another roller 202, whichis substantiallyif shorter than the roller 201, likewise is rotat.v Y A ably secured upon a'pinV 203 having a threaded end pfortionsecured within an openinggla- Y formed adjacent the lower end ofthe .blockf 9 66 of; laminationsi may r`beobtainedV :finlka' tube by? varyingthetdrivens-ratiobetweenlthe.segmentiV supporting oppositelends 4offthe formgrandll-c 194. f'-fllhe nollerf202,likerthewroller'201,also'c69 and theV pinionfll.;A The .apparatusfalsoa proj ectsnwandly'from the; block; 1=91wtoward` the mdian-iplaneofs1the=formfff Ay folding` nyge'rl, xigidly'l-:seeured -n-tol fthe; inner; end` of'fthej piti 20.3 beyond? the rollervrv 292-, isin-f clinedfftmnwnwaridly!*iv therefrom and termin-' nateseatffa point :immediately below the Vinner endoffthe'rollerf201. @Whenfthe forni'Y 146 ar'rivesf atm Aposition directly bene'athzthe' flding device 183, the opposite edges of-therffor supplying a strip ofYplasticuInatenialv stripusupported byfftheform lmanually @are folded fin'wardlyg asindicated 2,-;un til tli outersfolded'edgesrthereofiare locati ed ini a? reg-inaibetween rollers l :197 and 1,9?8. ffihe' aforesaid =rollers Ithen :are Ypro-1 jected'5drownwaxxill7l by, theimanua-l operation'zfinL forming a...tubul'ar article.` Incidentally, lof the-:knobwdg untilf'they engagegithe kupduringthevnext intermittentoperatiomo :the

fb'linsl; :143,144 and- 146 and the conveyor 144, KAthe gppositwedges ofthe strip `upon the tionedadja'centathe; dischargeiend 'ofthe-con#Y veyom 27e: andr'while another 'portion- "of the strip'vlj'is :beings wound-- spirally#- thereon, in stirtchigrrol'lerf is :employed 'for Vuniting the edgesiof thefst'rip formingthefa-oresaidf circumfenentialfsemn. only ashort' period of time is requiredleonthisi operation-,fthe handle-@17x61 ontrollinguthe fpositionwofthe ar yflris moved .nimmallygfasfillustrated?by Flg'1 JL; fwhiles'all ofrthejforms 'are stillfrotat-` ing tlwsc'ollapslngvtheizform"146 by'vmoving a portionthereof nfthedirectionvofa :dia-1 metricall'ynopposite'portion', and providingA a' loop`ftheroifnr which` 'permits-"fa r completely frmedinne tube-1206 to be'iremoveditherefrom: '1 uBy repeating thisgseries ofi oper ations; an irmer itu'bef'fmay be@ removed from Veach of the-'firms 142', '144,1113 and 11146 successively for an =oamtinnoustperiodduring'which the operai nzo. theapparatns is :requiredilf The inner are :inflatedT 'and vfcure'd in in'- 'dividalimoldsitf any. 'well'-'lirn'ownt character,

not showin? f It isftozbeunderstoodfnot'to be necessary to eniplayrfijax calender.- ca-pable' of providing1 :a double` [ply strip@ 0:6 zmaterialbut' any stand'- ard type" calender? may ibef substituted in r`the apparatus-neuilly desired numbertfof layers.

multiplying the number' of re/volutionsof the forms i142, l-14{^l,51ff14=' andf146 before the'V intermittentperiodsof'operationiofthe 'apparatus terminates-r This? result rmay fbe l'accemplished ini.l any fsuitabl'e: manner, lasfor? example, by.

'cdlrivenfby the 'operations ofthe pin 63 (iur- `may beeniployedwithout a calenderfbyfun` v swindinglastripofiistock'upon'ithe conveyor. f Y 2x7v from-'adjacent .supply kreels;VA VIt is further#v L:to bei understood-that 'the endless Eflexible .ffforms 'may be employedv as'individual units upon which toconstruct inner tubes for pneu fm'atic tire casings or in multiple,as shown n f Witlrany 'other formzof conveying apparati: N f

'a'hff fthem, 'either successively or simultaneously f Likewise; any suitable 'formfofxapparatu may be 'employedfortllie purpose ofaapplying anti-friction `Amaterial.' k.to l .the plastic g rstrips e for for folding. their-'opposite'edgetportions it iswe'll known that such 1folding operation rmay be performed manually,=if desire'dpand @It isto Vbenotedxthat thelconveyor2f7f-'-and il the forms 142,143,,144and1146a1e rotatab'ly;

ing substantiallyfless than `of itsfrotaf #tional movement,v which permits thec'onveyor. :1

and forms toiremain atlrestffors-a,periodsubf stantiallylonger. than -the period 'fori which@ *Ithey'are rotatedfeThis'isftruefby reason@10ft f'the fact that-the mechanismfis Idrivennwhilei95?Y "the pin istraveling between tliefaxis fothe crank shaft 58 and the stud shaft 68, support-"f ring the segmentwhile the idle period occurs@ f2: when the pin is voperating throughlanarc disi- 1 posed externally to the aforesaid crankshaft 119g and stud shaft. lfThe ratiobetweenthesefopl'"ztlz erative and inoperative: periods 1 maybe 2 'varied by varying the distance betweerrltheil@ crankvshaft'lS andthefstu'd shaft 68:3' i. lr=f-fFron1 the vforegoing vr'descriptio`11',"it isl ap# 1parent-that thisinventionprovides a "very`3 `elicient and economical"apparatusdforfthe vmanufactu're,l upon a production scale, -o'f 'f laminated inner tubes yfor pneumatic tire "cas-'e vings .from 'stock received directly A'fromfthe calender. .These tubes are completelyformed I or assembled when they arereYceivedffrom'the *apparatus and thus are wadapt'ed immediately* Y, to be placed inindividua'l-molds-fsuitablefor :the vulcanization ofsuc'h-tubes.V ff Hav-ing? described afpreferredf' 'ornifzo-vapz-E" "y" 'paratu-sv and meth-od embodying this ""iiive i D tion, its scope'is; defin'edas follows `1. A'n apparatus forInanuactuL ing tubui' '3 ilar articles comprising* an endless fllexible'" 4 form having an opening intermedi ate its'/ edges, 'and spaced' pairs of rollers jfor tataY bly supporting opposite ends'v of the forni, the Y.

opening the formbeinig'd-isposed oppositely 'to the space between the pairs Yof rollers: 2. An apparatus for manufacturing'tubtiif'l lar Varticle'si comprising -aff'fl'exibleendless *form-1 vhaving fan-l opening y inte'rmediate"V its edges, fspacedpairsfof"rollers for rotatably @f `.such method accordingly may be employedq l means for moving the rollers to provide a loop in the form.

3. A machine for constructing inner tubes for pneumatic tires comprising a pedestal, a driven shaft disposed vertically within the pedestal and having a horizontal frame rotatably disposed upon the upper extremity thereof, a plurality of pairs of parallel roll= ers secured to the frame, means interconnecting the rollers and the shaft for simultaneously rotating the former, and means for moving one of each of the pairs of rollers toward the other pair.

4. An apparatus for manufacturing a tubular article comprising in combination, a flexible endless form, means for supplying a strip of rubber compound to the form whereby the strip will adopt substantially the contour of the form, means for folding the edges of the strip longitudinally of the form to provide a tubular article and to vprovide longitudinal seams on the article, and means for collapsing the form to remove the article therefrom.

5. An apparatus for manufacturing a tubular article comprising in combination, a

flexible endless form, a plurality of pairs of spaced rollers on which said form is mounted, means for supplying a strip of rubber compound to the form whereby the strip will adopt substantially the contour of the form, means for folding the edges of the strip longitudinally of the form to provide a tubular article and to provide longitudinal seams on the article, and means for moving one pair of said rollers toward another pair to collapse the form whereby the article may be removed therefrom.

6. An apparatus for manufacturing an inner tube for a pneumatic tire comprising in combination, a fiexible endless form having an opening intermediate its edges, a plurality of pairs of spaced rollers on which said form is mounted, the opening in said form being disposed opposite to the space between at least one pairof said rollers, means for supplying a strip of rubber compound to the form whereby the strip will adopt substantially the contour of the form, said opening and the space between said last mentioned pair of rollers providing a cavity to receive a valve stem disposed on the strip, means for folding the edges of the strip longitudinally of the form to provide a tube and to provide longitudinal seams on the tube, and means for collapsing the form to remove the tube therefrom. f

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

Signed at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, U. S. A., this 26th day of December, 1928. g

- WILL C. SIATE.` 

